Dinner Hour Budget Update: Republicans Let Out The Gas.

A quick update: House Republicans have pulled the plug on this afternoon's planned vote on an impact fee for Marcellus shale natural gas drillers.

Via The Associated Press:

House Republicans on Tuesday abruptly canceled a vote on an impact fee to produce
revenue from Pennsylvania's Marcellus Shale natural gas extraction, only hours after they had announced it would be debated.

Majority Whip Stan Saylor, R-York, said the decision was made to buy time until a gubernatorial commission reviewing Marcellus Shale drilling issues reports to Gov. Tom Corbett next month.

Earlier Tuesday, Corbett had said he would veto any gas tax or fee that might pass this week.

Saylor said the Democrats had agreed to postpone action on the politically charged topic until fall, and they did withdraw related amendments to the Fiscal Code.

But Minority Leader Frank Dermody, D-Allegheny, said there was no deal and would not rule out an attempt to pursue a Marcellus Shale amendment later this week. The state budget deadline is Thursday, after which the Legislature will probably recess until Labor Day.

“We're not in charge of the calendar,” Dermody said. “We'll see what happens.”
The day began with House Republicans announcing votes on shale-tax amendments to a Senate-passed bill concerning hazardous site cleanups would be held in the afternoon.

The main GOP proposal, by Rep. Dave Reed, R-Indiana, would assess a fee on Marcellus Shale wells of $50,000 in the first year, $25,000 in the second and third years, and $10,000 a year for the next seven years.

The money would be collected and distributed at the county level, with 37.5 percent going to the host counties, 25 percent to host municipalities, 17.5 percent to all municipalities within a host county and 10 percent to county conservation districts, which help manage various local environmental protection efforts. The final 10 percent would go to host counties strictly for use by first responders and emergency medical services.